“The next release in our Canvas Series is Botanica. This gin barrel-aged sour sour ale ages on 1.5 lbs per gallon of bright strawberries and earthy rhubarb. Gin lovers rejoice! Available at the Funkatorium and Brewpub now.”
Glassware: Teku.
Appearance: Bright amber orange with 100% clarity. Hardly any head as it all settles at the rim. Very minimal lace as we go.
Aroma: Truly world class stuff. Every ingredient just shouts at us yet it still maintains such balance and poise. The strawberry and rhubarb just sings in all of its sweet and tart glory while the subtle characters of the gin barrels and direct lacto sourness provides the stage. Really liking the subtle herbals/botanicals provided by the gin too. Brilliant.
Flavour: In true WW fashion this short and sharp cameo of lacto sourness strips enamel off the teeth. Strawberry sherbet, slightly tart and earthy rhubarb, botanicals, dry and musty oak, sweaty lacto funk and juniper berry balances out with a kind of jammy sweetness. That delicious sherbet-like note returns late in the piece and helps finish off an incredible flavour profile.
Mouthfeel: Sharp-ish sourness, medium-high acidity with spritzy Co2. Mild body. Pucker rating sits at 3.5/5 and that 7.2% ABV is dangerously well hidden.
Overall: Another absolute corker from Wicked Weed! Honestly these guys deserve a spot in the top 5 best sour breweries in the States. Phenomenal.